Accompanied by a music video directed by Gregg Masuak, the song was a Number One hit in both Ireland and the United Kingdom while peaking within the top 10 in Belgium, Finland, Germany, Israel, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

[6] Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger noted that the melody is "murky and sad – this is as fog-bound and haunted a number one as we've seen since the high Gothic of John Leyton – and the tension gives the story a dignity.

"[7] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "'Babe' is another slowly with a familiar lyrical theme of the prodigal lover returning to find his ex with a child bearing his eyes etc.

[9] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, writing that "this overwrought ballad lacks the instant appeal of many of the group's previous singles.

"[11] In a retrospective review, Pop Rescue noted that it "has tear-jerking lyrics and vocals from Mark" and "the emotions soar here as much as the dramatic strings".

[12] Leesa Daniels from Smash Hits gave "Babe" five out of five and named it Best New Single, calling it "gorgeous",[13] and describing it as "a tale of a lost love that'll have you blubbing into your pillow for hours.